danielbriere

Going to be at sea this Christmas. First time. Hoping some of you veterans who've done a Christmas cruise before (specifically on Celebrity) might be able to help with something.

In all our previous cruises, evening chic nights -- dressup days -- have been sea days. However, we have a port day on Christmas day. So here's what I'm trying to figure out:

I assume Christmas would be dressier for dinner. Am I correct in that guess?

If so, in your past experience did they add a third evening chic night or simply move one of the others around.

Just trying to decide what to pack.

Thanks for your help. I know there are some Christmas threads here on CC but I haven't been able to find this specific answer anywhere.

Thanks Keesar, that's incredibly reassuring to hear that they would do that. 

WestLakeGirl, your point about eating in Blu is perfectly valid. We are all in Aqua and want to enjoy that experience, it's just a question about eating together. Has anyone had success working with the maitre'd to facilitate something like this?

We recently upgraded to Aqua for a coming cruise. Looking forward to it, of course.

However ...

We are a large party and had a table of 10 reserved in the main dining room. Haven't been able to get an answer whether that would still be held or if our Aqua status now forces us into Blu every night. The latter sounds wonderful but I'm a little concerned we'll never be able to get a table that sized in there each night and we really want to dine together.

Anybody know?

Appreciate any help any of you Aqua veterans can offer.

I might have missed something in the new video about Eden, but are they planning on handing out LSD to all passengers prior to entering this magical land for an even fuller effect?

So far I'm picturing an attempt at Spectacular Spectacular from Moulin Rouge with traveling sitar players, double-jointed snake wranglers and a phalanx of writhing dancers serving me some kind of bubbling green beverage made from the roots of a rare exotic herb found only in the heart of the Amazon.

A big part of me believes the entire staff of Celebrity must have shared a bag of 'shrooms one night and had a contest to come up with the most out-there idea they could. After the original idea of having the entire ship filled with water and passengers floating from bar to bar on inflatable lily pads was rejected, this was next.

That said, I really don't believe this concept will ever end up looking anything like these pictures. People want to go on a cruise to relax (don't they?) not to immerse themselves into one of Frank Zappa's nightmares. When the folks reject this homage to absurdity, they'll turn it into another piano bar.

In the meantime, I will stick with the ships that reflect the Celebrity I love. All the while hoping that they don't 'Edge' the other ships the same way they 'Solsticized' the fleet before.

Geez, just writing this is giving me the munchies ...

In addition to the pizza person that started this post, we've had a few others on previous cruises ...

-- There was the couple (on another line) who argued loudly enough in the next stateroom that we heard them every night. When we went to disembark on the final day, police redirected us away from their cabin as they were being led off the ship in handcuffs.

-- There was the lady who decided to spin her lounge chair around to better face the sun. Except she did it at a speed that suggested she'd once been a baton twirler and smashed me in the face with the leg.

-- And there was the old man who was wearing a way-too-small Speedo that couldn't quite hold on to his hips as he pulled himself out of the pool. Saw more of him than his proctologist that day.

Love these stories you're all sharing. Hilarious stuff.

Just back from Reflection in Concierge Class. Had never done that level before.

The good:

Our cabin was aft. Right at the back overlooking the wash of the props. Lovely to sleep to that sound with the balcony door open. Loved that. Would be willing to pay for this level again just for that. And contrary to some concerns, there wasn't a lot of noise from the bar or outdoor dining area above.

Balcony was larger than those on the sides and it came with a footstool which doesn't sound like much but was really nice. Made sitting out there much more comfortable.

Our key card was gold which really means nothing but, let's be honest, is an ego stroke around the ship when you flash that.

We thought the binoculars were a silly idea ... until we used them several times. Turns out that was a useful bonus.

The sturdier tote bag is a great upgrade. Much better than the usual one. That was very helpful and used every day.

The overrated:

They say there is complimentary shoe-shining for Concierge Class. Was never offered that by our cabin steward. Yes, I could've asked but I already feel the staff is working exceptionally hard and long hours and feel like a jerk if I ask for something extra that isn't offered. If this truly is a service that's offered, it should be made clear so I can accept rather than feel awkward.

Never saw an ice bucket in our room.

If there was a dedicated Concierge desk, we never found it. Didn't look hard, mind you. But was not obvious. Likely our fault so can't cast any blame here.

We asked about the priority disembarkation and were told by staff at guest relations that there was no such thing. There was a Concierge Class disembarkation waiting area. However, it offered nothing in the way of priority for those who needed to get off quickly to catch an early flight. Just go to the usual spot. Again, no big deal but if you're using it as a selling feature, it should probably be a bigger deal.

Pillow menu? Never saw one and never asked if we had a preference. Again, if you're going to use it to entice people to buy ...

Celebrity embossed key holder as advertised? Nope.

Celebrity embossed notepad and pen as advertised? Nope.

In short, the placement of the cabin made it worthwhile for us. The rest of the 'perks' were, meh.

All this said, we had a wonderful week. The food was exceptional (don't listen to the critics who tell you things have gone terribly downhill, they're wrong), the ship was beautiful, the entertainment was very good and the weather was a much-needed upgrade from what we'd been suffering through up north.

Just off Reflection. Wonderful week. But was stunned by one passenger in the pizza line at Oceanview Cafe.

Rather than simply take a slice or two, he took a piece ... then picked all the pepperoni off all the other slices to add to it. Leaving a cheese pizza for everyone else behind him.

Just shook my head at the I-am-the-centre-of-the-universe attitude. Though I admit it was so ridiculous it was actually funny.

Anyone else experience bizarre behaviours by fellow guests? Love to hear them.

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We've been upgraded (feeling lucky about that) and have read about the concierge pre-boarding lounge. Can anyone tell me anything about It?

Is it actually a thing?

We've been upgraded to concierge class on Reflection. Which is nice except for one thing:

I have no idea what this means.

I've been reading different threads and stuff online but figured I'd come to you the people who are the real experts for a little breakdown.

What are the differences we'll notice with concierge compared to the regular verandah staterooms we've used before?

Any answers are appreciated. I simply don't know whether to be a little excited, a lot excited or, meh.

Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere. Missed it if it was.

I have a Classic drink package. Martinis at the fancy martini bar are out of our coverage range as a result. That I understand.

Can I get a martini elsewhere on the ship that IS covered by classic? Even if it's smaller or not as fancy?

Thanks.

Of all the ports we've gone to or are scheduled to hit, St. Kitts seems to be the toughest to figure out what to do. There's just not a ton of information about it and nobody we know has been there.

I'm sure many of you have done it and can jump in here with some ideas from your experience.

What would you recommend?

Is there anything to do right around the dock? Is there anything spectacular that we absolutely shouldn't miss?

Open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks.

To answer a couple questions you've asked ...

We disembarked sometime around 10:30 or so as I recall in Key West. Not a huge problem, just a pain to get through the process.

As for the ports, they were a mixed bag to be honest.

Key West is fantastic. Taking a walk to the southernmost point buoy marker is fun, though it was so hot I could have fried eggs in my armpits. No complaints, we were there for the heat. But take water. And plan on a slow stroll. The Little White House is an interesting stop. Hemingway's House is worth a look over the fence and the original Sloppy Joe's Bar is a landmark worth poking your head into for a few moments. Just a lovely place. Key West, I mean. Not the bar.

Coco Cay was great. Not too crowded, especially if you don't follow the crowd to the beach on your left as you leave the tender. Everyone goes that way because it's a bit closer and it ends up jammed. We went right and it was gorgeous and spacious. Lovely day on the island. Only downside? We had a non-alcoholic drink package (Royal Refreshment I think it's called) but there were no facilities for frozen drinks, just cans of pop. We had to make up for it when we got back on board by downing five or six virgin pina coladas. (Then having a massive, painful brain freeze).

Nassau was a dump. Had we booked an excursion I have no doubt it would've been terrific. We had decided just to wander around the port area. Won't do that again. Pushy sales people, sickly looking horses, and touristy tack. Would just stay on the ship next time. Again, those who went to Atlantis or somewhere else surely saw a different, beautiful piece of paradise. Lesson learned.

Anyone have different experiences? Love to hear about them.

One of the oddities of this discussion forum (and cruise-takers in general, it seems) is that so many reviews of so many ships have me anxious prior to leaving. The naysayers do a great job of making sure that each time I'm heading out I'm convinced I'm about to embark on a voyage of the damned with poor service, food that barely beats swamp water and moldy bread, and jail-cell-like staterooms.

Never happens.

So let me assure those awaiting their cruise on Majesty, you can rest easy and ignore all the impossible-to-please reviewers out there. You'll be fine, you'll have a great time and the ship will be up to standards and beyond, as all are. Breathe. You're OK.

To help those leaving soon, I'm going to break this up into useful (I hope) topics rather than something chronological that really interests only me. If you really want an in-depth breakdown of everything we did in order, feel free to pop over to the house for a two-hour slide show of our vacation pictures with longwinded narration and boring tangents about my late aunt Ethel's trip to America in steerage once upon a time.

Yeah, I thought this way would be better.

Of course, there are a few points that weren't perfect. I'll get to those. But if you're looking for a hatchet job, you won't find that here. We really enjoyed ourselves. The quibbles are minor.

OK, here we go for those still interested.

Embarkation:

Easy. Arrived about 10:45, got our SeaPass cards in 10 minutes from a woman who reminded me of George's mother from Seinfeld, spent 10 more minutes in another line then were on board eating. Note to newbies - whatever you do, don't listen to the cruise line's instructions about when to arrive. Arrive early. Otherwise you're wasting a good part of a day. And carry your bathing suit and sunscreen on with you in a carry on so you can use the deck before your luggage arrives.

Staterooms:

Yes, they're small. Smaller than on most ships. Maybe smaller than your walk-in closet at home. If I bent over to pick up a pair of shoes and wasn't careful, I ran the risk of impaling my sphincter on a door handle. It's a bed, a desk and a bathroom. That's it. No grand foyer or dance floor. But it's clean, well-kept and more than sufficient. After all, unless you're a honeymooner you probably want to spend your time elsewhere. (And if you're a honeymooner, heads up, the doors aren't perfectly soundproof).

Public spaces:

Again, everything is clean. The ship is the oldest in the fleet but holds up well. I never licked the handrailings as a test of cleanliness, but I probably could have. Staff picked up cups and used plates quickly. Everything appeared in good order.

Decks:

Plenty of deck chairs usually available. Easy bar access. Sun deck is close to Windjammer so food is never far away. Pools were clean. Only real comment (which, admittedly has nothing to do with the ship itself) ... if you are one of those folks carrying an extra 80 or 90 pounds - or 200 - a thong is probably not your best option. I mean, nobody hates you or begrudges you sharing a ship with them. Nobody's suggesting you shouldn't wear a bathing suit at all or get some sun. And no doubt, you're a lovely person and we'd love to have a drink with you. But holy heck, a little coverage on the cottage-cheesy buttock region would be a pleasant nod to those onboard with you. Especially if you're positioning yourself onto the chair next to me and that hind end is inches from my face. Seriously, for one moment during the sailing I felt like Neil Armstrong looking out the window of the Apollo as he landed on the face of the moon.

Decks II:

To the late-middle-aged woman who thought this was a European ship and was lying on her back sunbathing topless, no problem. But you might want to find a spot other that right outside the pizza parlour windows next time. Kids, after all. And appetites.

Decks III:

The deck band was as good as any we've heard on a bunch of cruises. Most shocking of all, Red Red Wine was not played 72 times a day. That was a wonderful gift. Their selection was nice and technically they were strong.

Food:

Always the most-important question on any cruise. In short, it was great. Forget all the other critics on these boards who apparently have five-star chefs for parents and grew up eating nothing but French gourmet food. Everything we had was excellent. The main dining room especially was very, very good. Service was excellent, choice was more than adequate and quality was outstanding. I worked my way through most of the menu (a few more days and I would've been one of those folks with the thong issue) and I can say you'll be fine. The Windjammer was also quite good, though slightly less fancy. One word about the Windjammer though. It is amazing to me that on a ship where your main activities are lying down, drinking and eating, and where you never have fewer than six pounds of undigested food in your system, people could still be so frantic about getting fed. Seriously, I had more folks cut in front of me in lines to get their food you'd think they had recently been rescued from a deserted island surviving on raw snails and coconut water. Slow down. The mounds of bacon will always be there (or will be refilled so you don't starve to death).

Shows:

Didn't love the comedians or the singers and dancers on this cruise. Usually do, didn't this time. Luck of the draw. Personal taste. Even so, the only complaint is that the shows usually started at 8 to accommodate both dinner seatings which made it a huge rush for those us us dining early. Meaning, the theatre was pitch black when we arrived and finding seats was a challenge. On the flip side, The Quest, Battle of the Sexes and Love and Marriage Shows were solid. Actually, quite hilarious.

Staff:

No complaints. All good.

Customs:

The time when you return to U.S. soil in Key West and have to be checked by customs agents is the one thing that could really be fixed. Told to be at our designated spot at 9:15 a.m. Arrived shortly before. Long line. Loooooong line. No agents. Still no agents. Still no agents. Every time we eventually started making progress toward an agent, folks with excursions booked (who'd not bothered to come on time) were put in front of us in line. Frustrating. Roughly 10:15, we finally got to the front of the line. Should not be this slow or cumbersome. Cost a chunk of a beautiful port day. There has to be a better way.

Captain:

Never saw him. On most cruises we've been on he's been front and centre. Here, a ghost. That's OK. Probably means he was steering the ship. Rather have him to that, to be honest.

Cruise director:

She was fine. Can't remember her name. She didn't make the cruise vastly better or hurt it. Sort of served as a traffic cop. Much better than a guy we had one time who thought he was Austin Powers and introduced me to my first feelings of wanting to throw someone overboard. No, this AD was perfectly fine. But if you want to play a Majesty of the Seas drinking game, pound back a shot every time she says "Right over there." You'll be sloshed before the first show starts.

Best secret spot:

Go to the sports court at the back of the ship (the stern, for you experienced sailors who want to show off your great nautical jargon). Then go down the stairs a deck or two. Nobody was ever there and it was relaxing and fantastic to sit and watch the wake on the water.

Thing not to do:

Flush while sitting. The Mach-Six suction could cause severe internal injury.

Thing not to do II:

Step into the shower when the red line on the temperature handle is all the way toward you. Always check, unless you want to experience the sensation of being deep fried.

Thing not to do III:

Try to order a rare, generally unknown cocktail from the bartenders - then insist they make it even when it's clear they think you're talking Swahili - when there are 45 people waiting behind you. Get a strawberry daquiri. One's probably already made.

There's more but I'll stop there. Don't want to bore you.

Point is, all those people who worried you by saying Majesty was too old or too small or too whatever, it's not. No, it's not Oasis but it has different charms. And to be honest, I can't even begin to imagine what the customs line would be like on Oasis ...

I don't know who the entertainment was...but I am going in about 3 weeks and here is the line-up for my sailing:

 

 

DREW THOMAS MAGICIAN - NOW YOU SEE IT

JOHN JOSEPH & JOHNNY B COMEDIAN

STEVE SHAFFER COMEDIAN

CARLOS OSCAR COMEDIAN

AGNES & PETER AERIAL ACT

ELENA & DMITRI FEATURED ICE ACT - MAGICAL TRANSFORMATION

SHANE TAPPER PUB ENTERTAINER / COCKTAIL PIANIST

MAMBO CALIENTE LATIN TRIO

Perhaps I've missed something obvious on the RCI web site (wouldn't be the first time) but where does one find this kind of information? I'd love to know what's happening on our cruise a couple weeks later on Mariner.